Safety match package



p 29, 1970 B. UNGARSOHN I 3,530,977

I SAFETY MATCH PACKAGE Filed 001;. 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.4 I i IWVENTOR;

BENJAMIN- UNGARSOHN BY 0112/. mm

"ATTORNEY P 1970 B. UNGARSOHN 3,530,977

SAFETY MATCH PACKAGE Filed Oct. 25, 1968 v 2 SheetS-Shet 2 FIG. 5 I FIG. 6

INVENTOR. BENJAMIN UNGARSOHN cm f 111 ATTORNEY 3,530,977 SAFETY MATCH PACKAGE Benjamin Ungarsohn, 23-50 Oceancrest Blvd, Far Rockaway, NY. 11691 Filed Oct. 23, 1968, Ser. No. 770,016 Int. Cl. A24i 27/00 US. Cl. 20629 2 Claims ABSTRACT (19F THE DISCLOSURE A flattened tubular cover has a paper of upstanding matches therein, the match paper being laterally slidable within the cover for match removal. An enlongated slit in the base of the match paper and an extension thereof has a fastening means extend through it and transfix the cover to limit withdrawal of the match paper and hold the cover closed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional paper book matches are easily opened by small children with results which are often tragic. Conventional paper matches are thoroughly familiar to the public and thus lack intrinsic novelty and sales appeal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A match book has a flattened tubular cover containing at least one paper of upstanding matches therein, the match paper being laterally slidable from within the cover to expose matches for their removal. An elongated slit and an element extending therein guide and limit the withdrawal of the match paper from the cover. A preferred embodiment of this invention has a slit formed in the bottom of the match paper to have a staple securing the cover extend through the slit to guide and limit the sliding of the match paper. A second embodiment of this invention has a slit formed in the cover through which a projection glued on a match paper extends to limit and guide the withdrawal of the match paper.

The match package of this invention is difficult for small children to open and thus is safer in a family environment. Perceptive adults, however, find the match book of this invention easy and pleasantly interesting to use. This novel match package intrigues the public so that they wish to buy matches and it causes the public who use matches to pay more attention to advertising associated with the match package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a front view of a match book according to a preferred embodiment of this invention shown in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a match paper from the match book of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the match book of FIG. 1 shown in the opened position;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the match book of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front view of a match book according to a second embodiment of this invention shown in the closed position;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a match paper from the match book of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the match book of FIG. 5;

FIG. '8 is a front view of the match book of FIG. 5 shown in the opened position; and

FIG. 9 is a back view of the match book of FIG. 5.

United States Patent 0 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing in detail, the match book of the first embodiment of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. A tubular cover 10 is folded in the conventional manner from paper board or any other suitable material. The cover 10 has a back surface 11, an upper front flap 12, and a lower front flap 13. A striker surface 14 may be placed on front flap 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, one or more match papers 15 are formed by cutting the match stems 16 from a base 17. The stems 16 have their tips coated to form the striking heads 18 in the conventional manner. A slit 19 is formed for substantially the length of base 17. Base 17 should continue to form the tab 20 and it should have an extension 21 opposite tab 20 to allow slit 19 to extend beyond the match stems 16.

Cover 10 is closed by a single small transfixing staple 22 which passes through back surface 11 and front flaps 12 and 13. Staple 22 passes through slit 19 of an inserted match paper 15. Staple 22 does not tightly crimp cover 10 so that match paper 15 remains slidable therein. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, tab 20 may be pulled to slide paper 15 outward from cover 10 to expose and allow the removal of a match 16. On removal of a match 16, paper 10 is slid into cover 10 and the head of the match 16 is ignited on striker surface 14. As shown in FIG. 4, a second staple 25 may be used to close the end 26 of cover 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-9, the second embodiment of this invention has a tubular cover.30 folded in the conventional manner from paper board or the like. The cover 30 has a back surface 31, an upper front flap 32,

and a lower front flap 33. Lower flap 33 contains a large rectangular slit 35. A staple 34 joins the upper and lower front flaps 32 and 33.

As shown in FIG. 6, match paper 36 is formed by slitting the match stems 37 from a base 38. The stems 37 are coated in the conventional manner to form the striking heads 39. Base 38 has a continuation 40 which extends beyond the stems or matches 37. A square block 41, thicker than the material of cover 30, is glued or otherwise fixed to the continuation or extension 40.

When the match book is assembled according to the second embodiment of this invention, block 41 extends through slit 35. Thus the finger of a user may engage block 41 to slide match paper 36 out from cover 30 as shown in FIG. 8. As may be seen in FIG. 9, a striker surface 42 is provided on back surface 31 of cover 30. A second staple 44 may be used to close side 45 of cover 30.

Both embodiments of this invention are safe as they are difficult for children to use. In addition, they both lend themselves to novelty advertising. If desired, two or more match papers may be fixed to each other to increase the capacity of the match package.

While this invention has been shown and described in the best forms known, it will nevertheless be understood that these are purely exemplary and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A- safety match package comprising, in combination, a flattened tubular cover of uniform width having a back surface, an upper front flap folded down therefrom, and a lower front flap folded up therefrom overlapping said upper front flap, a match paper having a base cut to form match stems extending upward therefrom, said base having a tab laterally extending beyond said cover and an extension opposite said tab, said tab and said extension projecting laterally beyond said match stems, said match paper being disposed to slide laterally within said cover, said base of said match paper containing an elongated slit extending into said extension, and fastening means transfixing one side of said cover securing said back surface, said upper front flap, and said lower front flap, said fastening means extending through said slit in said base guiding and limiting withdrawal of said match paper.

2. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of a staple closing the end of said cover opposite said tab and wherein said lower front flap of said cover has a striking surface formed thereon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Wachholz 20629 Gosselim 20629 Milani 206-2() Carter 206-29 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner 10 I M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner 

